Isolated Asian steppe element in the Balkans: habitats of Proterebia afra (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) and associated butterfly communities

0474925 - BC 2018 RIV NL eng J - Článek v odborném periodiku
Bartoňová, Alena - Kolář, Vojtěch - Marešová, Jana - Šašić, M. - Šlancarová, Jana - Sucháček, P. - Konvička, Martin
Isolated Asian steppe element in the Balkans: habitats of Proterebia afra (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) and associated butterfly communities.
Journal of Insect Conservation. Roč. 21, č. 3 (2017), s. 559-571. ISSN 1366-638X. E-ISSN 1572-9753
Grant CEP: GA ČR(CZ) GA14-33733S
Grant ostatní: GA JU(CZ) 04-168/2013/P; GA JU(CZ) 152/2016/P
Institucionální podpora: RVO:60077344
Klíčová slova: Proterebia afra * Proterebia phegea * butterfly communities
Obor OECD: Ecology
Impakt faktor: 1.562, rok: 2017
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10841-017-9995-x

A characteristic butterfly of Asian steppes, Proterebia afra (Fabricius 1787), was studied in its two relic areas of occurrence within the Balkans—the Askion Mts (a single mountain massif in NW Greece) and Dalmatia (karstic inland S Croatia)—together with co-occurring butterfly communities during its early spring adult flight period. P. afra adults tolerate harsh continental conditions prevailing at its localities during its flight. Local densities were higher in the Askion Mts (up to 100 individuals per 50 m walk) than in Dalmatia (up to 30 individuals per 50 m). Within both areas of occurrence, it inhabits dry grasslands subject to intermediate grazing pressure that retains enough dry grass litter but still suppresses shrubs and trees. Hotter slopes are preferred in more northerly Dalmatia than in the more southerly Askion Mts. More co-occurring butterfly species and more Mediterranean species were recorded in the Askion Mts (69 vs 63, 23 vs 12), but more butterfly individuals and higher species’ richness per
transect were observed in Dalmatia. In ordination analyses, the main gradients organising the grassland butterfly communities distinguished between grassy plains and rocky slopes containing more woody plants. Given the distribution extents, local densities and present land use conditions, the Balkan P. afra is not currently endangered, but this may swiftly change
with grazing abandonment, especially in Dalmatia, and some conservation actions should be considered in the near future.
Trvalý link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0272929